Good Oral Hygiene and Regular Dental Checkups Are Key to Preserving Dental Health for Seniors
It surprises many seniors to learn that cavities aren’t just for kids — and neither is taking good care of your teeth. In fact, it may even be more important as we age to pay special attention to dental health.
Seniors face dental health problems due to physiologic changes that come with aging and, in many cases, chronic and acute disease. These along with the effects of medications often prescribed for high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus as well as over the counter medications and the interactions among all these can have negative consequences for dental health.
And that doesn’t even take into account that many seniors, as they age, have dental hygiene that is sometimes less than optimal.
We are not here to judge, and we don’t. Rather, we want you to keep your teeth for a lifetime, so our team of professionals at Downtown Dental Associates of Portland encourages all patients to do the best they can to protect and maintain their dental health. It’s why we start out with our youngest patients, teaching them how to care for their pearly whites and why we encourage every patient to practice good oral hygiene. It’s also why we talk to our older patients about practices and strategies that will help them keep their teeth throughout their golden years.
Like everyone else, seniors need to practice good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing regularly and being seen by a dentist at least once a year, but better still, every six months. These practices go a long way to preventing gum disease and tooth loss and for spotting problems early, when there is a better chance to prevent negative consequences.
The dental health professionals at Downtown Dental Associates of Portland are ready and willing to help you take care of your teeth. Contact us if you have questions about this blog post or any dental health-related matter.